CarVerify

Free Car Check

KO53 DSE

2003 BMW 520

Gold Petrol 2171cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires17 Mar 2027
Tests22 (18 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate81.8%

Mileage

121,612 mi
Last recorded121,612 miles
Recorded on7 Mar 2026
Typical for 2003 BMW 52084,985 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationKO53 DSE
MakeBMW
Model520
Year2003
ColourGold
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,171cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

18 pass 4 fail
Pass 7 Mar 2026 121,612 miles

Front Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 3 Mar 2025 115,492 miles
Fail 1 Feb 2025 114,536 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel fixing missing (5.2.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Road wheel fixing missing (5.2.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Road wheel fixing missing (5.2.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Road wheel fixing missing (5.2.1 (a) (i))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative (5.2.3 (h))

Nearside Front Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 18 Mar 2024 105,007 miles

Headlamp lens slightly defective both slightly cloudy (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Position lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning (4.2.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 4 Nov 2021 90,539 miles

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both front brake pipes corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Nearside Rear Brake noisy when rotated, Possible handbrake shoes

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Arm bush has play( front arm upper bush) (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both rear brake pipes corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 5 Nov 2020 90,107 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Fail 29 Oct 2020 90,101 miles

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Pass 1 Jun 2019 84,232 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 2 May 2018 79,509 miles
Pass 29 Jun 2017 72,588 miles
Pass 17 Jun 2016 64,194 miles
Pass 25 Jun 2015 56,846 miles
Pass 7 Jul 2014 50,710 miles

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Fail 7 Jul 2014 50,708 miles

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Fail 1 Jul 2014 50,505 miles

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 9 Jul 2013 44,878 miles

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 4 Jul 2012 37,060 miles
Pass 11 Jul 2011 27,712 miles
Pass 4 Jun 2010 23,886 miles
Pass 23 Oct 2008 22,178 miles
Pass 3 Nov 2007 20,660 miles
Pass 3 Oct 2006 17,165 miles

How Reliable is the BMW 520?

Based on 1,661,806 MOT tests across 152,584 vehicles.

78.5%
Pass Rate
7,968
Miles/Year
35
Year Lifespan
152,584
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 47,121
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 22,647
Brake pipe excessively corroded 16,724
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 15,884
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 14,720
Full BMW 520 reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

KO53 DSE is a 2003 BMW 520 in Gold with a 2,171cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 81.8%.

Across all 2003 BMW 520 models, the average MOT pass rate is 74.5% with a typical mileage of 84,985 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a BMW 520 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 47,121 recorded failures. If you're considering buying KO53 DSE, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 520 typically stays on UK roads for around 35 years. At 23 years old, this BMW 520 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of KO53 DSE?

You can check the full history of KO53 DSE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was KO53 DSE registered?

KO53 DSE is a 2003 BMW 520, first registered on 27 October 2003.

Is KO53 DSE safe to buy?

The MOT history for KO53 DSE shows 22 tests with a 81.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does KO53 DSE have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on KO53 DSE. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.